Stories

After retiring in 2013 from NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC, I moved to Missouri and in the summer of 2017 wanted to get back into music to keep my mind active. I did not see any Dobro players at local music venues, so I thought the Dobro might be a good instrument to learn to play. I had played the guitar and thought it shouldn’t be too hard to learn how to use a slide bar.  I had absolutely no idea of what I was about to get into.

My first Dobro was actually a converted Alvarez acoustic guitar and I had to go out on the Internet to figure out how to tune it.  Finally, in September 2017, I bought a new Paul Beard model Dobro.  When my cousin, Frank Bounds visited me from North Carolina in November 2017, he said, “Your next step should be to attend Resogat.” I said, “What is a Resogat?”  Frank replied, “It’s a gathering of resonator guitar players”, hence the term Resogat, and they meet each year in July in Wilkesboro, North Carolina.”

I had absolutely no clue of what to expect as I pulled into the Holiday Inn Express in Wilkesboro in July 2018.  After all, there have been some pretty hilarious TV commercials about people who stay at Holiday Inn Express.  Little did I know that Resogat 2018 would be a rendezvous with destiny, but also turn into a bit of a family reunion[1] and the highlight of Resogat 2018 for me.

One of the first things that struck me upon arrival at Resogat was just how friendly everyone was, whether it was the hotel staff or the attendees.  Pammy Davis, Resogat Chairman, was the first person that greeted me and welcomed me to the event. She introduced me to Ken “Chief” Harper, who was also a super friendly person. We worked on a project the first evening and he began to go over names on the attendee list that I might want to meet while I was there during the week.

On the first full day of the event and at check-in, I really still had no idea of what to expect. I anticipated that I would register and then get some kind of notebook informing me of an agenda and tracks or activities. What I soon discovered was that the event was very loose. Oh, there were some formal program tracks with structure, but it was also very in-formal with different enclave rooms hosting various jam levels. There were all levels of players from beginner to professional and all types of genres (e.g., Bluegrass, Country, Jazz, Blues, Rock, you name it.).  It was an extraordinary ensemble of resonator guitar (Dobro) players along with a few other instruments (e.g., banjo, guitar, violin, and bass). The music in the jams was incredible!

Whether the player was a beginner, intermediate, or advanced professional, it was amazing at how friendly the attendees were and their willingness to share their “hot licks and tricks” with anyone who might ask.  As a beginner, I was repeatedly asked to get my Dobro and join in on the jam sessions. However, I was not ready to do so just yet. I was in awe at how friendly and approachable the professional resonator guitar players were to someone like me, who was a first time attendee and a “just getting started” beginner. They treated me with the greatest respect and offered their sage wisdom without belittling me as a beginner. Whether it was going to have a meal, sharing their vast or limited experience and knowledge, or just chatting, I found everyone to be highly professional, respectful, and willing to inspire and encourage me to feel part of the group and to proceed to the next level.

It took me a while to understand there was no registration fee for the event. Basically, people bought silent auction tickets and did other things during the course of the event to pay for the hosting of Resogat. As the week progressed, you could not toss your hat without hitting a Dobro. They came from near and far, and they rolled Dobros in on carts, sometimes four and five at a time. By Friday, there were approximately a little over 100-dobro players from multiple countries. The 2018 group photo captures the players that attended the event. But, it did not, nor could not capture the electricity, friendships, and inspiration imparted to those who were there. The free Friday night talent show made up from attendees with various levels of expertise was first class and honored Johnny Bellar, what talent! There was one gentleman in his 90s playing his second talent show. I spoke with him as we walked out the door after the event, and he told me he did not learn to play until he was in his 70s. I immediately thought, “There is hope for me.”

If you showed up with no Dobro, no problem, you could buy one in the Vendors room as there were multiple vendors selling Dobros and/or accessories (e.g., bars, picks, capos).   You could also purchase CDs from the Pros that were there and even take professional lessons. Bottom line, something for everyone.

So, “What is a Resogat?” It is an event in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, each year in July that you do not want to miss! I have my reservations made for July 2019. There are basically two events in the United States that are popular for resonator guitar players. First, there is “Reso Summit,” which is held in Nashville about November and can be quite expensive, plus more than likely you will be on a waiting list to attend. Second, there is Resogat, a venue that is well worth the money, and easy to attend with the ability to meet some of the finest folks you’ll ever want to meet.  Both great events.  You neve